A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Lights in the Sky

Photo Credit: Chad Blakely (https://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=171970) 

AN: How have there been two letter stories in this already? Anyway.

To my beloved,

Sometimes when I look up, I see lights in the sky. These lights are not made by man. Nor are they the ever faithful lights of a sun or a moon or the stars. People here call them the Aurora Borealis. Northern lights.

I would dare to say that they are one of the most beautiful things about this place. They light up the skies in shifting shades of greens, reds and blues. It looks like a flowing river or a twirling ribbon. Or perhaps like some sort of celestial snake, dancing its way across the heavens.

As I said, they aren't always there. They only show up at night when it's dark enough that there's no other competition. And even then they don't always appear. I have not yet figured out how to predict when they will be there.

When I saw them for the first time, I thought for a moment that we might be under attack. But I've come to learn that they are a beautiful and natural phenomenon.

I looked into them a little bit, just out of curiosity. I don't think I understood all of it, I'm not a scientist after all. But the general gist of it seems to be that Earth has some sort of magnetic field around it. And something about the way that this field interacts with their sun can create these light shows.

It's kind of incredible, actually. Just one of the many ways this seemingly unremarkable planet chooses to stand out in its solar system. Although supposedly, there are other planets nearby who also experience these aurora.

But none of that was what really stood out to me. No, what's more interesting to me personally, is that throughout human history there's been a whole bunch of myths and stories to try and explain these lights. Some believed the aurora to be gods or mythical beasts running across the sky. Others felt that they had some unexplained relation to children and childbirth. Many thought them to be a message from the heavens.

I really like that last one.

Mostly because I too choose to see them as a message.

I mean obviously I know that they aren't really. As I've already proven, I know what they really are. But that's not the point. The point is that you have to believe in something or else what's the point, right?

Wow, I said the word point too many times in that paragraph. Anyway. I can't help but think of them as perhaps a message from space to me. Reminding me that I'm not alone and that I'm not going to be stuck here forever.

That is true, isn't it?

I'm not going to be here forever. I can't be here forever. No, I'm not even going to entertain that thought, because to do so would be too depressing. I'm going to get out of here and I'm going to see you again. I promise.

Even if I have to become a goddamn engineer and build my own way out of this place I'm going to see you again.

Sorry, I don't mean to get angry.

It's just not fair, is it? That I got stranded here when everybody else got to make it home and see their loved ones again. That I can't hold you in my arms when the nights are long. That I have to miss you so much it hurts but you don't even know if I'm dead or alive.

Life's not fair but it was supposed to be fair to me.

But I'm not angry. Not really anyway. Just frustrated and lonely and tired.

I want to go home.

I know I said that the lights were seen as a message from beyond. But those omens weren't always seen as good. Many saw them as a warning or even as souls of the dead.

What if that's what they are destined to be for me?

What do I do then? If the only message here for me is telling me to give up hope, and that I'll never get out of here. Lights so bright only here to illuminate my own fears and despair. Just what am I supposed to do with that?

How I wish I had an answer to any of that.

But instead, all I have is no way to contact the people who care about me. Heavens help me not to lose my mind.

Though, even with all that staring me down, I still know that I can't lose sight of hope. I just have to believe that they'll come back for me. They will find me. You wouldn't let them rest if they didn't, right? I know you.

Yeah, I know all of this.

I'll come home eventually darling.

Any day now I'll look up and instead of the Aurora Borealis I'll see the flickering jets of a rescue ship, come to get me. And they'll bring me home, to see you again. The smile you'll have on your face will make all of this worth it.

Then, someday in the far future, we'll look back on this and laugh. Remember when you were stranded on Earth? We'll say. How crazy that was, it's a good thing they came back and found you in the end.

Yes, that's exactly what we'll do. And I'll eventually forget the fear and uncertainty that I felt. Instead, remembering only the beauty of the arctic wilderness. Then I'll tell you about the wildlife I saw and the nature I experienced.

It's going to be okay, isn't it?

I feel better now I think. Writing this letter helped. Oh, I should hold onto these and read them to you when we're together again. That'll be good.

And until then, I'll watch those lights in the sky. Busy myself pretending that they're sent from you just thinking about me so damn much. Pretending that they don't spell my doom.

I'll see you soon my love.